A few years ago, a radio station ran a contest. Disc jockeys invited their listeners to tune in their clock radios. "Just for fun," they said, "when you wake up to the sound of FM-106, call and tell us the first words you spoke when you rolled out of bed. If you're the third caller, you'll win $106."

It didn't take long for the contest to grow in enthusiasm. The first morning, a buoyant disc jockey said, "Caller number three, what did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?" A groggy voice said, "Do I smell coffee burning?" Another day, a sleepy clerical worker said, "Oh no, I'm late for work." Somebody else said her first words were, "Honey, did I put out the dog last night?" A muffled curse was immediately heard in the background, and then a man was heard to say, "No, you didn't." It was a funny contest and drew a considerable audience.

One morning, however, the third caller said something unusual. The station phone rang. "Good morning, this is FM-106. You're on the air. What did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?"

A voice with a Bronx accent replied, "You want to know my first words in the morning?"

The bubbly DJ said, "Yes, sir! Tell us what you said."

The Bronx voice responded, "Shema, Israel ... Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." There was a moment of embarrassed silence. Then the radio announcer said, "Sorry, wrong number," and cut to a commercial.

It is a sad commentary on our society that people find more joy in hearing people curse in the morning than from God's name being glorified. One of the jobs given to the Levites in the Old Testament was "to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening." (I Chron. 23:30).

All of this is intended to make you stop and think. What were the first words you spoke when you got out of bed this morning? Was it a curse or a blessing? Did your first words revolve around your job, your dog, or your God who created you and gave me a new day? Just a little food for thought.

My first words are, "why can't that dog wait until the alarm goes off to start barking. It's only six thirty in the morning." I've also said when the alarm goes off, "where's the remote for the alarm." The alarm is across the room so we have to get out of bed to turn it off.

If the radio station mentioned in the glurge was one of these Israeli stations, that might explain why the first thing the gentleman said when he got up in the morning was the Shema. I believe that if you're Jewish, the Shema IS the first thing you're supposed to say each day, as soon as you get up.

This makes me think of the Army rule* that the first words you say when you wake up can't be held against you. I suppose because if you had to be abruptly woken at 5am you'd tell everybody to NFBSK off and worse.

*Hubby used to be in the Army long before I met him. I only have his word that this is an actual rule, but he insists.

If the radio station mentioned in the glurge was one of these Israeli stations, that might explain why the first thing the gentleman said when he got up in the morning was the Shema. I believe that if you're Jewish, the Shema IS the first thing you're supposed to say each day, as soon as you get up.

If it was one of these Israeli radio stations, the reaction in the glurge would be even less likely than that from a North American radio station. I get the feeling that FM-106 is somewhere in North America.

Of course, with no further identifying features (a radio station that held a contest some years ago -- that narrows it down!), it's hard to say. You could very well be right that the station is in Israel.

I realize New Yorkers can emigrate to Israel, but I'm still betting this glurge takes place in North America.

I assumed from the "Bronx accent" bit that it took place somewhere around New York City itself. In most other places, don't the accents all get lumped together as "New York accent"? I know they do around here.

I assumed from the "Bronx accent" bit that it took place somewhere around New York City itself. In most other places, don't the accents all get lumped together as "New York accent"? I know they do around here.

No, I hear people talk about accents being "Bronx" or "Brooklyn," etc. I don't think they know the difference, and I think they use any of those as a catch-all for any accent around New York, but I don't usually hear people just call it a "New York" accent.
My impression was that it was a Bronx accent because of the 'New York Jew' stereotype, so I was figuring the station was probably meant to be somewhere else, where anyone from New York is Jewish, right? Assuming they're not Drunk Irish Catholic or Italian Mafia. Gives it a nice, solid undercurrent of glurgy prejudice.

Do you say the Shema in English? I thought you always said it in Hebrew. Shema, yisrael, adonai elohenu, adoni ehad...

Not that the caller couldn't translate, or that people couldn't theoretically say it in English, but I've only ever heard it recited in Hebrew.

Avril

Totally, OT...but am I the only one who adores the rhythms of Hebrew prayer and chant?

Yeah.

As for the OP? My impression of AM radio was that there was supposed to be humor. Ya know, to wake you up, make you happy, help you face your day. I don't think a brox-accented voice reciting prayer would do the trick.